Trent Hanson has earned one of the highest honors in scholastic sports leadership, being recognized as a Certified Master Athletic Administrator by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, a distinction that reflects years of dedication to professional growth and athletic administration.
The Certified Master Athletic Administrator, known as the CMAA, is the top tier in a multi level program of certification offered through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. The program is designed to help athletic administrators sharpen their skills and deepen their understanding of interscholastic athletics. Each level builds on the last, requiring more experience, more training and a stronger record of professional involvement.
Hanson’s achievement places him among an elite group of athletic administrators across the country and around the world who have met the rigorous standards of the CMAA credential. To reach this level, candidates must already hold the Certified Athletic Administrator designation and serve, or have served, in a role that includes responsibility for interscholastic athletics.
The path to the CMAA is not a quick one. Candidates complete a series of leadership training courses through the association’s Leadership Training Institute. The coursework covers a wide range of topics central to athletic administration, including legal responsibilities, program organization, professional ethics, communication, coach education and handling unexpected events. In total, candidates must complete at least a dozen specialized courses before moving on to the final phase.
That final phase is a comprehensive professional project. The project is reviewed by a certification committee and is designed to demonstrate a candidate’s ability to apply leadership principles in real world situations. It requires thoughtful planning, research and practical application, drawing on years of hands on experience.
In announcing Hanson’s accomplishment, supporters emphasized both the difficulty of the process and the meaning behind the recognition.
Congratulations to Trent Hanson on being recognized as a Certified Master Athletic Administrator by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.
They noted that the honor reflects more than a title.
This distinction reflects Trent’s commitment to professional growth, leadership, and excellence in athletic administration.
The certification itself demands a broad review of a candidate’s background and contributions.
This certification process includes an extensive review of education, experience, leadership training, professional contributions, and a culminating project.
By completing those steps, Hanson joins a select group of peers who have reached the highest level offered by the organization.
Trent joins an elite group of athletic administrators worldwide who have achieved the highest level of certification.
The recognition also speaks to the impact of his work closer to home. Athletic administrators play a critical role in shaping student experiences, from scheduling contests and overseeing budgets to supporting coaches and ensuring compliance with rules and safety standards. Strong leadership at that level helps create positive, organized and fair opportunities for student athletes.
The announcement closed with a note of pride that reflects how his work is viewed locally.
We are Raider Proud of his leadership and dedication to our student athletes and programs.
Earning the CMAA is a milestone that signals both experience and ongoing commitment. It requires steady effort outside of daily job responsibilities, long hours of coursework and careful preparation of a professional project. For Hanson, the certification stands as recognition of that effort and of a career built around serving student athletes and strengthening athletic programs.
While titles and letters after a name can seem formal, the work behind them is practical and people focused. In this case, the certification underscores a clear message, that leadership in school athletics matters, and that dedication to growth and excellence does not go unnoticed.